AECID - Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo

Texto

What is the Azahar Programme?

The Azahar Programme is a development co-operation programme targeting the countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean basin, designed to make the development of local populations compatible with environmental protection and the conservation of natural resources.

It is a sector programme in the framework of Spanish co-operation for development, and comprises projects under way in twelve Mediterranean countries classified by the Spanish Master Development Plan as priority or preferential. As part of the programme, a series of horizontal actions in training and awareness are also organised, benefiting the citizens of those countries and of Spain.


How is the Azahar Programme funded?

The activities making up the Programme are financed by the Azahar participants using their own instruments and mechanisms. They have funding for direct development activities in beneficiary countries, and/or organise the financing of development co-operation projects through DNGOs and other institutions.


What is the role of the Programme’s participants?

Azahar Programme participants, signatories to the constituent declaration, act not just as financers but also help to define the programme and formulate co-operation activities implemented as part of it. At Coordination Committee meetings, they exchange information, define priorities and outline action, share experiences and know-how acquired on the ground, and design joint activities.


How do other co-operation agents participate?

The Azahar Programme aims to coordinate all the Spanish players working on development in the countries of the south and east of the Mediterranean basin, to enhance the efficacy of the aid. These participants must include the DNGOs, whose work on the ground and in civil society in Spain and the beneficiary countries is fundamental. Together with Spanish enterprises, they play a crucial role in the transfer of goods and services for development, and are responsible for the implementation of Azahar programme activities and, in most cases, their identification and formulation along with their local counterparts.

The programme foments the exploitation of these players’ experiences, along with the know-how of scientific and research institutions, via the exchange of information and the establishment of contacts with the Azahar participants who draw in turn on regular consultation mechanisms.


What is the relation between the Azahar Programme and the international co-operation organisations?

The Azahar Programme stems not just from a response to Spain’s particular awareness of Mediterranean matters, but also as a consequence of international concern about the environment and its relation to the development of the peoples of the region. Through its Executive Secretariat, Azahar compiles and distributes information prepared by specialised international bodies, and has regular contacts with agencies like the UNDP, FAO, UNEP-MAP and IUCN.


Who works for the Azahar Programme?

Through its Directorate of Cooperation for Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation ensures that all Committee participants are permanently in coordination, channelling and fomenting the exchange of information, convening the Committees’ meetings, and running the Executive Secretariat. Azahar Programme activities are implemented through the personnel assigned by the participants, and the existing tools for development co-operation such as DNGO subsidies or company contracting. Thus no personnel is posted directly to the programme: rather, the staff is drawn from the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and the participants, or from DNGOs and the companies running these activities.


How do the collaboration procedures?

Collaboration with the Azahar Programme can be offered via its participants and others involved, like the DNGOs, all of whom have their own mechanisms for financing, recruitment, volunteer programmes, etc. Solidarity, combined with respect for our environment, is an active way of contributing to the fulfilment of the Azahar objectives.